We are excited to have two of our solar monitoring experts speaking at the EGU (European Sciences Union) conference in Vienna next week. Hannah Montag will be sharing botanical data collected over from 6 years of solar monitoring work, undertaken by Clarkson and Woods in the UK. Factors affecting botanical biodiversity such as land management approach, and age of array will be discussed as well as potential solutions for maximising biodiversity net gain.
Adele Remazeilles will be explaining how Clarkson and Woods have been collaborating with Lancaster University to define guidance for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) calculations on solar farms. Solar array developments usually achieve high biodiversity gains when land that has been intensively farmed is restored to grassland. However, the extent of these gains varies from site to site depending on the extent and manner of which the vegetation is managed. Data from 30 solar parks has been used to characterise the vegetation within solar parks (including underneath the panels) to understand the composition and conditions of these habitats.
EGU22 is an opportunity to learn about new developments in a range of fields, such as planetary exploration, Earth observation, polar science, climate change, pollution and natural hazards. Visit the EGU website for more information and details on how to view the talks.
